When we designed this garden the intent was to make these massive urns on pedestals, on either side of the front door, a focal point, changing the contents with each new seasson

The Why: Look for elements in the garden and pay close attention to your homes colors.

The Materials:

-Boxwood (already in the garden, repeat, repeat, repeat)

-Tree toppers, for height

-Birch sticks, pick up the brown tones in the home

-Eucalyptus, has a blue/silver cast (great contrast to the brown)

-Blue Spruce, same reason as above

-Pine cones, extra large (compliments the browns)

-Faux fruit and berries, for color and textural contrast. Faux lasts year after year, IF YOU USE SOLID PLASTIC, n e v e r styrofoam coated berries, they will burst in the freeze/thaw of winter. How can you tell? Try to puncture the fruit/berries with a finger nail, if you reach foam, take a pass

The why's; take a look at the various greens. A successful composition will have varying shapes and colors. Have you ever seen those with one variety, say long needle pine with a cone and a berry branch? Yes, not as interesting, dare I say boring!

The materials;

-a boxwood wreath around the rim, great for nestling the bunny plus the rich dark green leaf glows

-pine needle spruce; the underside for the blue

-long needle pine

-cedar incense for draping and visual interest with the yellow seeded tips

-red twig dogwood for height

-faux berries

-a concrete rabbit

I NEVER use or sell fresh winter berry or holly. The berries turn black and drop, quickly, in our cold climate

If local, we can come to your home or we sell all of the components at the Geneva, Il. shop. Feeling creative? Between the samples above and the tutorial below, I hope I have empowered you!

The following urn from last year has been all over pinterest. Let's use this as our tutorial

To begin, use any type of urn except for terra-cotta (in the north) as that will freeze and crack. I use last seasons soil or refresh. Another medium you could use is finely ground mulch.

Tree toppers, insert these upright and as with all materials insert deeply into the soil

Red Twig Dogwood

Long needle pine used upright and spilling sideways

Coned cedar as another spiller

Extra large pinecones, wire these at the base and wrap around something strong, in this case the red twig

Step back repeatedly and scan your shape, is it even all around? Go back and add more of all the above. Plan on using twice as much as you think you will need. Over time the branches will diminish in size, keep it full.

Faux red berries, looks good doesn't it?

Your final step is to spray with 'Wilt-Pruf', an anti-dessicant to keep fresh.